An NFL-ordered probe has revealed that Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin was subjected to ongoing racist harassment that included vicious sexual taunts about his mother and sister by three teammates.

We’ve been following the Miami Dolphins’ bullying case starring a dude whose real name is actually Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin here on the BYP, because sports–and sports stories–are never entirely about sports. I’m repeating myself and others when I say that sports is a microcosm of the culture, and this issue is no exception. For those of you who haven’t been following, know this: a few weeks ago, Jonathan Martin, an offensive lineman for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, abruptly left the team. What we learned in the aftermath is that Martin had been the victim of vicious hazing, even though hazing is generally a team ritual reserved for rookies and Martin is no longer in his first year. This hazing/bullying included over 1100 texts between Martin and Richie Incognito, who has emerged as one of the key players involved in bullying Martin.

A Texas teen has been suspended from school for ripping apart the Bible during a protest. While speaking out for gay rights in class, 18-year-old Birdville High School senior Isaiah Smith tore pages from the holy book to make a point.

A couple of weeks ago, NFL offensive tackle Jonathan Martin walked off of the Dolphins headquarters. He cited excessive bullying from teammates as his reason for leaving the team, and vowed not to return unless justice was served.

Martin’s teammate Richie Incognito, has been labeled the “ring leader” in the scandal. Voicemails of him referring to Martin with expletives is in the evidence pile.

About The Black Youth Project

The Black Youth Project examines the attitudes, resources and culture of the young black millennials.

We have three core areas of focus: knowledge, voice, and action. Knowledge is the research we perform on Black millennials ages 18-35. Voice is the high-quality news and opinions written by Black millennials on this platform. Action is the work done through our sister organization BYP100.